reticulate

adjective

re·tic·u·late | \ ri-ˈti-kyə-lət

, -ˌlāt\

Definition of reticulate

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : resembling a net or network especially : having veins, fibers, or lines crossing a reticulate leaf

2 : being or involving evolutionary change dependent on genetic recombination involving diverse interbreeding populations

reticulate

verb

re·tic·u·late | \ ri-ˈti-kyə-ˌlāt

reticulated; reticulating

Definition of reticulate (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to divide, mark, or construct so as to form a network municipalities that reticulate electricity to consumers

intransitive verb

: to become reticulated

Other Words from reticulate Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about reticulate

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Did You Know?

Adjective

Though "reticulate" is used in many contexts, it finds particular use in the field of biology. "Reticulate" comes from the Latin word reticulum, meaning "small net." It first appeared in English in the mid-1600s and was used in connection with the study of plants even back then. Scientists use "reticulate" to describe a net-like formation of veins, fibers, or lines that crosses something. For example, a leaf with a pattern of veins that resembles a net would be called a "reticulate leaf."

Examples of reticulate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Fifty-four-year-old Wa Tiba was checking on her home vegetable garden when she was believed to have been attacked by a 23-foot reticulated python. — National Geographic, "Python Swallows Woman Whole—What Experts Say About the Rare Attack," 18 June 2018 Tribun News Video screenshot The plantation is located near a rocky area of the Indonesian island, with caves and cliffs locals believe to be home to many giant reticulated pythons, the Associated Press reported. — Matthew Martinez, miamiherald, "A woman in Indonesia went to check her corn — and was swallowed by a 25-foot python," 16 June 2018 By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive. — Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Washington Post, "Giant pythons keep attacking people in Indonesia — and humans might be to blame," 4 Oct. 2017 By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive. — Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Washington Post, "Giant pythons keep attacking people in Indonesia — and humans might be to blame," 4 Oct. 2017 By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive. — Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Washington Post, "Giant pythons keep attacking people in Indonesia — and humans might be to blame," 4 Oct. 2017 By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive. — Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Washington Post, "Giant pythons keep attacking people in Indonesia — and humans might be to blame," 4 Oct. 2017 By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive. — Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Washington Post, "Giant pythons keep attacking people in Indonesia — and humans might be to blame," 4 Oct. 2017 By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive. — Author: Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Alaska Dispatch News, "Giant pythons keep attacking Indonesian people – and people might be to blame," 5 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reticulate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.